Magnificent, thought provoking and insightful piece, Roger. I think our intrinsic frailty as Humans is in full display in these sentences by your niece:

“I’m scared,” she said. “I spent all that time in church, and I’m supposed to know how this is going to end. I’m supposed to be at peace, looking forward to crossing over. But I don’t feel that way".

Clearly, there are several passages in the bible coupled with her firm devotion to the Triune God that should have made her feel otherwise.

Nonetheless, those final six words; "I hope I see you again" tell the true story of her life and probably her feelings even when she felt she was not at peace as she crossed over.